A reader asks:
I have a bottle of 1971 Jaboulet-Verecherre from France made by J-V Tavel. Any info?
Darby replies
I get asked questions like this from time to time> People find a bottle hidden in the back of a wardrobe or somewhere and think they may have found a 1930 penny.
In this case the wine is over 40 years old and is almost certainly undrinkable.
Only a few wines will last more than 10-20 years even with good cellaring, and they probably only be kept by knowledgeable wine buffs.
Tavel is a region in the Rhone Valley of France best known for its rose. It was fashionable half a century ago but seems to have gone out of vogue.
Jaboulet is the name of a prominent wine producer/merchant in the Rhone Valley, best known for their production of mass marketed wine.
My general advice for older wines is to drink them yourself.
